Zinédine Zidane regains confidence in Istanbul despite Juventus crisis

In November 2000, while Zinedine Zidane was going through a dark period at Juventus Turin, he gave France a dazzling performance in Istanbul, where the Blues crushed Turkey 4‑0. This triumph marked a rare moment of light amid the mid‑season difficulties.

Crisis at Juventus and suspension

On October 24, Zidane was sent off in a Champions League match against Hamburg after a headbutt, an incident that cost Juventus Turin its progression to the group’s knockout stage. This suspension tarnished his image while Juventus, far from its ambitions, was already struggling to finish among the top four in the league.

It was a golden age for the French national team, reigning world and European champions, but the autumn of 2000 was not exactly a pleasant period for Zinedine Zidane. The sanction also affected his chances for the Ballon d'Or, which drifted far from him that autumn. In October, he missed the two matches of the Blues, a 1‑1 draw against Cameroon and a 0‑0 stalemate against South Africa, due to an injury.

Return to Istanbul and renewal of the Blues

On November 15, Zidane returned to Istanbul for a new friendly, a prelude to the 2002 World Cup, as the squad regenerated without Didier Deschamps or Laurent Blanc, who had retired since the victorious Euro. Fabien Barthez confided: « Not seeing Lolo and Dédé feels strange. Sunday night, I talked with Laurent on the phone. I told him: “Alright, we’ll see each other tomorrow morning,” before realizing he wouldn’t be there ».

Zidane must break the Ballon d’Or curse with France

Zidane explained that transfer rumours fueled by his personal website bothered him, stating: « It’s a shame that something like this appears on my personal site. I’m not at risk of leaving. We are fourth in the league and I’m fairly commented on. The only blemish was that sending‑off against Hamburg. It has to be accepted but I understand that the supporters were disappointed ». Youri Djorkaeff did not take part in the match for political reasons linked to France’s recognition of the Armenian genocide, which clashes with Turkish sensitivities.

Johan Micoud made his debut alongside Zidane, a first that ended in a triumph in a not‑very hostile atmosphere, Zidane even being applauded during the warm‑up. Steve Marlet, called in a crisis to replace Thierry Henry, recalled his entry into the big world of football: « The day before yesterday, I had joined the players at the stadium, it was very intimidating. Alone on the plane, in the taxi, I kept telling myself “don’t lose the balls…” I didn’t feel at all that Zidane was in a delicate period. In the match, we were on top, unbeatable. The opponents looked at us with fear in their eyes, from the moment we stepped onto the pitch. Joining this group, you felt such confidence, you knew you were going to win. »

Before the match, coach Roger Lemerre had said: « Juventus isn’t doing well. So, he can’t go either. ». After the victory, he highlighted the technical importance of his two starters: « I would like to underline the importance of two players, Zidane and Micoud, remarkable on a technical level. ». Micoud, scorer of the third goal, added: « With Zidane, we clicked well. I had known for a long time that we could play together. »

France choose Izmit over Istanbul to face Turkey

For Zidane’s Blues, the sun rises in the east, reminding that even in the darkness of a season, a flash in Istanbul can revive hope.